Cultivation of Arable Land. Rough-talked Meadow Grafs. 3 21 



when the roots have become matted, and exhaufted the ground, which they feem 

 much difpofed to do ; but in moid meadows this effcd: has not been fo much 

 noticed.* 



It has been remarked by Mr. Saliibury, that this grafs is likely to be a fcarce 

 kind in cultivation, as the feed is not to be collected in any quantity, neither does 

 it produce it abundantly when grown on purpofe. 



Common or Rough-ftalktd Meadow Grafs.-\ Though this grafs has much fimilaritjr 

 to the preceding in its appearance, efpecially in the mode of flowering, it differs 

 effentially in its qualities, as the former is chiefly found in dry paftures, while the 

 latter principally occurs in moift meadows. It delights in moifture, and fitua- 

 tions that are flickered ; on which account, though there are few more productive, 

 or better adapted for the purpofe of hay or pafturage, it is tender, and liable to be 

 injured by fevere cold or drought : and in moid rich ground it has been obferved to 

 grow tall, while in poor land it has been found equally diminutive. 



It is faid by fome cultivators to be a grafs well adapted to good, found, moilr, 

 loams. On the continent it is greatly efteemed both for dry paftures and water 

 meadows, as it multiplies much by feed as well as root. It is therefore necefiary 

 to permit the feeds to fall, in order to preferve the quantity undiminimed. The 

 produce is admirable for the feeding of all forts of cattle.J It is, however, con- 

 lidered by fome as inferior to the laftfort, from its property of going off after being 

 cut, being fupplanted by thofe of the bent kind : but its radical- as well as ftem- 

 leaves grow larger. 



According to Mr. Saliibury, this grafs in certain fituations is to be ranked 

 among the beft and moft productive grafles ; but on examining the plant in many 

 other places where it grows fpontaneoufly, he finds it fo very fmall and poor, that 

 unlefs circurnftances were much in its favour, agricultors mould, he thinks, be 

 careful how they hazard the fowing it ; the places where it is obferved to thrive 

 beft, are, he^fays, in low wet foils confifting of a heavy loam and clay : farmers 

 who have lands of this defcription would certainly do well to felect this kind for the 

 purpofe, as it is fweer, and feems to poffefs all that is neceflary for either paftu 

 rage or hay. 



As the feeds of this as well as thofe of the laft fort are apt to be entangled, and 

 adhere to each other, it is difficult to difperfe them evenly in fowing. This cir- 

 cumftance fliould therefore be attended to in putting them into the land. 



* Curtis s Observations. f Poa trivialis. 



J Young in Communications to the Board, &c. vol. III. Sole in Bath Papers. 



VOL* II. T t 



